It’s Friday afternoon and I’ve just arrived at Prayer Mountain in Jinja for a ladies retreat on ‘Let your Light Shine’- ‘Keep Shining’. I came with Judith, a few months younger than me, she is always so happy not to be the oldest! She has been in Uganda and other countries in Africa since the 1960’s, a fount of knowledge and an amazing lady with lots of stories. Also Andrea from Germany who sometimes stays with me at weekends and Elizabeth, an Ugandan lady I know from MCC came with me. It is absolutely beautiful here and we have rooms overlooking the Nile. I believe there are 43 of us here this weekend mostly Muzungu’s, from America, Netherlands, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland and Argentina.
The boys are all fine. Peace and I visited the new boys at George’s Place on Wednesday. Whilst we were there we talked with the boys and two of them come from the Masaka area and the other from Fort Portal – in the west. Most of our other boys come from the east! The new boys are very pleased with their new football boots. Kenneth was busy doing maths when we arrived, he has been to school and is keen to return to his studies. Tresor took them swimming Thursday afternoon which they also enjoyed.
We have a tree in the compound that has fruit on it that’s been crossed with an orange and a lemon, the boys have been enjoying the fruit, it’s quite sharp. The boys enjoyed swimming and football on Saturday afternoon.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
Augustine came to Kampala this weekend to see if he and Trevor could locate Trevor’s brother in Kisenyi on Saturday, sadly they couldn’t, they took a boda to collect the transport money from Tresor.
Peace visited Saidi’s school this Saturday as they wanted to meet the guardian, she also visited Brian as it was his Visiting Day and both these schools are near to each other. I did speak to Brian whilst Peace was at the school and sadly he has a toothache. I said we will sort out his treatment on Monday at a nearby clinic.
Saidi is coming back home for the Easter weekend, also young Denis is coming for a few days as Don Bosco will be closing. Those in secondary will stay at school.
I had hoped Yusuf would have been assessed by his teacher from Don Bosco on his internship this week but haven’t heard, he did tell me he had taken the log book back to them. Connect Africa should also be assessing Victor, Saviour and Sula who are on internships they seem happy to be earning some small money from tips. Sula doing nails and hairdressing and Saviour waiting on tables at The Speke Hotel – both tell me they are saving! Only Victor working in the kitchens isn’t getting money but is learning lots of new skills. Omoding won’t be being assessed just yet as he only recently started his internship in Tororo at a salon near his home.
This week I’ve heard from big Dennis, Tim, Anton and Sula who tell me they are ok!
I’ve had a wonderful time away, meeting new people and catching up with some I have met before. We had a bonfire last night with singing, testimonies and s’mores (an American treat with marshmallows, biscuits and chocolate – very sweet!).
Thank you for all your love and support.
Love Jane x